FIA blames software error for British GP Safety Car confusion

FIA clarifies late British GP safety car controversy

The FIA has attributed the confusing finish to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix to a software error, after race control initially signalled that the safety car would come in for a final-lap restart before reversing the message moments later.

The incident followed Max Verstappen’s crash with six laps remaining, which brought out the safety car and turned the Silverstone race into a tense strategic endgame. Once Verstappen’s Red Bull had been recovered from the Stowe gravel trap by marshals, race control began the standard process of allowing lapped cars to overtake and rejoin the lead lap.

Those cars were cleared on the penultimate lap, but the relevant regulation required one full lap to be completed after the unlapping procedure. That meant the final lap had to be run behind the safety car rather than used for a restart.

Erroneous message raised restart expectations

The controversy came when race control’s messaging system displayed “safety car in this lap” on the penultimate tour, appearing to set up a one-lap shootout. Eight seconds later, the system changed to “safety car deployed”, and the safety car remained on track to the chequered flag.

The FIA later explained that the race operation itself had followed the regulation correctly, but the displayed message had not. In its statement, the governing body said: “The Safety Car period regulation, Article B5. 13.5, states that one lap must be completed following the unlapping procedure.”

It added: “This process was followed by Race Operations. The ‘Safety Car In This Lap’ message was displayed erroneously due to a software error.”

For the wider race picture, the clarification confirms that Charles Leclerc’s victory stood without a final-lap fight, despite Ferrari pitting him for fresh soft tyres in anticipation of a possible restart. For more on the race outcome, see our report on Leclerc’s chaotic British Grand Prix win after Verstappen’s late crash.

Strategy swings without a restart

George Russell, who did not stop for fresh tyres, moved up to second for Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton also pitted for new softs. Hamilton, meanwhile, remained under investigation for an earlier yellow flag infringement.

The episode carried extra sensitivity because late-race restart procedures remain a major flashpoint in Formula 1 following the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP title decider, where FIA rules were not followed correctly and a one-lap restart enabled Verstappen to pass Hamilton for the world title. At Silverstone, the FIA’s position is clear: the regulation was applied correctly, but the messaging system created the confusion.

FIA clarifies late British GP safety car controversy